Paris inaugurates Shimon Peres Square in recognition of life of diplomacy

A public square in the heart of Paris has been dedicated to former Israeli prime minister Shimon Peres in recognition of his years of  diplomatic efforts between the two countries. 

The inaugural ceremony on Thursday 19 February in the historic Le Marais district, brought together French and Israeli leaders, members of parliament, and Peres’ family, including two of his children Professor Tsvia Walden and Chemi Peres, who unveiled the plaque bearing their father’s name.

Speaking at the unveiling at the intersection of Rue Malher and Rue Pavée in the 4th arrondissement, Walden said: “Paris salutes Shimon Peres and everything he represented: never giving up hope for peace, never giving up on social solidarity and, above all, remaining faithful to yourself, your homeland and humanity.”

Son Chemi added: “This is closure; my father forged the strategic ties with France, which to this day remains a partner of Israel”.

Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo called Peres “A friend of Paris” and a “visionary for peace”; referencing soaring antisemitism in France, she added: “The rise of hatred in recent years is toxic to democracy.”

The ninth president of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres (1923-2016) received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 alongside Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat for his role in the peace negotiations with the Palestinians that led to the Oslo Accords.

A French speaker, Peres worked for decades to foster cooperation between Israel and France.

In a statement shared on social media, Joshua Zarka, Israel’s ambassador to France, wrote: “We applaud the decision by @MParisCentre to pay tribute in this way to this great figure in Israeli politics. To inscribe Shimon Peres’s name in the public space is to affirm that the values of peace, dialogue, and fraternity do not yield to hatred. His name and memory are now perpetuated in this place, right in the heart of the city he held so dear.”

Shimon Peres Square joins other memorials in Paris named after Jewish thinkers, leaders and statesmen, including Esplanade David Ben-Gurion (7th Arrondissement): Place Yitzhak Rabin (4th Arrondissement) anad Place Theodor Herzl (3rd Arrondissement).